It was merely a few decades ago when most gamers would flock to their local internet cafes and play tournaments for the grand prize of a few beers or some pocket money, but now gaming has changed – it has become much more than just a hobby. The advent of streaming sites such as Twitch.tv has turned gaming into a spectator’s sport, something that was previously unimaginable. “Why watch someone else playing a game when you can play it yourself?” many would ask, but the same question can be asked of any sport.
Video games are entertaining, engaging, and they boast an enormous following. Every day, millions tune in to watch streams of all sorts of games with or without an esports scene. This opened the door for tournaments with huge prize pools and big-name sponsorships, which ultimately led to the birth of esports.
This exponentially-growing industry is no longer in its infancy stage. It has expanded to a point of warranting coverage from big media organizations such as ESPN, thus slowly making its way into the mainstream. Naturally, bookmakers soon turned their gaze towards esports with the intent of capitalizing on a new industry with millions of potential new customers, leading us to where we are today.
SPORTS ARENA 